Avoiding confrontation

I refer to the article (Aug. 2) Educator laments spread of violence in society.

The telephone discussion with your reporter was about the spread of violence in this city, especially among youths. My comment was that it is not very helpful to berate youth about their violent behavior if they are confronted by displays of violent conduct as a daily routine on television and in the streets. By the time they reach SMTA (senior high school) level, most students in Jakarta have experienced or witnessed violence in the streets meted out by other youths or by adults, including security personnel. Violence has indeed become part of big city life.

Being responsible for six thousand students, which include my own children, I am constantly aware of the possibility of violent acts against these children. Therefore, we try to teach students big city survival skills. For example: Do not hang around. Go to your destination via the shortest route and in the least amount of time possible. Avoid bumping into strangers. Avoid direct eye contact, lest it is misunderstood as a challenge. Be neat and tidy and you will get less hassles that way. Always let somebody know where you are. Always contact your home or school if you are going to be late. When attacked, run. When forced to surrender your books, bag, shoes or any other valuables, do so. Do not ever make a heroic stand. When in trouble, scream as loud as you can to attract attention, etc. Admittedly, it is a grim approach to life in Jakarta, but any school administrator who is not teaching students the basics of avoiding (greater) trouble is not being responsible.

We teach our students that there is no virtue in "defending" the name of the school and that you do not foster school solidarity through street fights. Those who choose to fight "for school honor and for solidarity" are not being heroic and loyal but are simply dumb. We admonish students not to join when others want to fight, but we also tell them not to interfere but to let the fighters go their way.

It is not that we do not value courage or that we "no longer teach students virtues" as your article seems to imply. Under prevailing street conditions, there is no virtue in misplaced heroism and courage. We teach children that there is no shame in avoiding trouble: Too many students have been hurt for no obvious purpose or reason. We do teach students the tenets of virtuous living, but fighting street brawls or ganging up on other students are definitely not among them.

Like most other schools in Jakarta, our schools on occasion do get harassed. It is not always easy for teenagers to reign in their basic impulses when their friends are hurt or their school building is trashed. Still, our rule has always been and will always remain: Avoid confrontation.

Finally, two small corrections: The Perkumpulan Sekolah Kristen Djakarta (the Jakarta Christian School Association) more popularly known as PSKD, as its name implies, operates only in the greater Jakarta area and not throughout the country. Moreover, I am not the chairman of the association, but only its executive director and secretary of the board serving at the pleasure of our board. Our board chairman is the Rev. Roesman Moeljodwiatmoko of the Gereja Kristen Jawa, who is quite popular and highly respected in our association.

TOENGGOEL P. SIAGIAN

Executive Director

and Secretary of the Board

PSKD, Jakarta